Guess who's putting out the cigarette? 🚬🚫
China is making serious moves to kick the smoking habit! This year alone, 44 cities introduced or updated their regulations to control tobacco use. That brings the total to a whopping 254 cities nationwide stepping up against smoking, according to health authorities.
At the provincial level, 24 regions have jumped on the anti-smoking bandwagon, meaning more people are now protected by comprehensive smoke-free regulations than ever before. Talk about fresh air goals!
During a special event in Beijing this Saturday, health experts highlighted these efforts and emphasized the importance of promoting healthier lifestyles. Wang Lu from the National Health Commission (NHC) pointed out that helping people quit smoking is a win-win for both individual health and preventing diseases across the population.
Did you know China signed onto the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control back in 2005 and put it into action in 2006? Fast forward to 2016, and the country set an ambitious plan to intensify tobacco control through pricing, taxation, and laws. They're aiming to create more smoke-free environments and ramp up supervision in public places.
The big goal? Decrease the smoking rate among people over 15 to 20% by 2030. 🌟
Cities like Beijing and Shenzhen are leading the charge. In Beijing, you can't smoke in public places, indoor workplaces, or even while waiting in outdoor queues. Shenzhen has similar bans, including in schools, parks, and medical institutions.
Thanks to these relentless efforts, Shanghai has seen its adult smoking rate drop to 19.4%. Nationwide, the smoking rate among those aged 15 and above was 24.1% in 2022, down 1.7 percentage points from 2020. Progress!
Wu Xiangtian from the NHC mentioned that China will keep pushing for smoke-free environments and focus on helping patients adopt healthier lifestyles. Plus, there's an emphasis on scientific research into tobacco dependence and how to treat it.
So, next time you're in China, don't be surprised to see more smoke-free zones. The fresh air movement is on, and it's catching fire—in the best way possible! 🌬️🎉
Reference(s):
China intensifies smoking regulations with more cities clamping down
cgtn.com
